Animal-gun



(No Model.)

W. O. & S. POREMAN.

ANIMAL GUN.

No. 414,306. Patented Nov. 5; 1889.

N. PETERS, PlmloLinuographnr, Wallu'nglon. D. C.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VIIILIAMv FOREMAN AND STANTON FOREMAN, Ol BIDIVELLS BAR, CALIFORNIA.

" ANIMAL-GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 414,306, dated. November 5, 1889.

Application filed August 14, 1889- Serial No. 320,742. (No model.)

T all whom it 12mg; concern:

Be it known that weflVILLIAM FOREMAN and STANTON FOREMAN, of Bidwells Bar, in the county of Butte and State of California,

have invented an Improvement in Animal- Guns; and we hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Our invention relates to that class of guns for killing gophers, ground-squirrels, moles,

To and other burrowing animals in which the hammer is released by the action of a trigger-connection projecting in front of the muzzle of the gun and into the burrow and path of the animal; and our invention con- 15 sists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The object of our invention is to provide a simple and effective gun which, though adapted for killing larger animals, is especiallyintended for burrowing animals, such as gophers, moles, squirrels, &c.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, the figure is a perspective view of our gun,

2 5 showing it in a set position.

Ais the stock, and B is the barrel, of the gun, of which I) is the cap-nipple.

C is a tine for sticking in the ground to hold the gun. In a bearing a on the stock is pivoted the shank d of the hammer D, said shank having a rear extension (1, acted on by a spring E. Pivoted to the side of the stock is the set-lever F, one arm of which extends forwardly, and is turned to form the bent end f, which lies under the hammer. The other arm of lever F has a hooked end f and a thu1nb-rest f Pivoted to the bearing a is the trigger G, the hooked upper end 9 of which is adapted to engage the hooked end f of the set-lever F.

To the lower end of the trigger G is at tached a sliderod H, which extends forwardly through a suitable guide I), and has on its end a split or double ring h, in which may be inserted a plate or disk h, of card-board or other material, which, while presenting a visual obstruction, is not an obstruction to the ball.

The gun is to be loaded as usual and to have a percussion cap placed on its nipple.

To set it, the lever F is thrown back, whereby its end f raises the hammer. The hooked end g of trigger G is now thrown to engagement with the hooked end f of the set-lever, whereby it is held, and the hammer is fixed in an elevated position. In this position of the trigger the rod 11 is projected so that its disk h lies in front of the barrel-muzzle, but directly in its line. The gun is placed with its tine sticking in the ground, and the disk h of the rod H projecting a short distance into the burrow.

lVith these animals, and with gophers es pecially, curiosity is a factor to be relied upon, and they will invariably return to see what interferes with the mouth of the hole.

A gopher, upon seeing light entering a hole which he has previously voluntarily closed, will always return to close it again, and there upon, either coming directly in contact with the disk h or throwing his load of dirt against it, the rod H is moved back and releases trigger G, which trips lever F, and the hammer descends, explodes the cap, and discharges the gun, the missile from which will pass directly through disk h and into the gopher.

Having thus described our invention,what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an animal-gun, the combination of the stock, the barrel with its nipple, the hammer pivoted to the stock, the spring controlling the hammer, the set lever F, pivoted to the stock and having a bent forward end for raising the hammer, and a hooked rear end, the trigger G, pivoted to the stock and having a hooked upper end engaging the hooked rear end of the setlever, and the forwardlyextending slide-rod II, connected with the trigger and projecting in front of the barrel, substantially as described.

2. In an animal-gun, and in combination with its stock, barrel, nipple, hammer, and trigger, the slide rod II, connected with the trigger and having the ring on its forward end in front of the barrel, and the disk or plate h in the ring, substantially as described.

3. An animal-gun consisting of the c0mbi- 10o nation of the stock having the barrel with sticking in the ground, all substantially as IO nipple, the'hanlmer with pivoted shank and herein described.

controlling-spring, the set-lever Wit-h bent for- In Witness whereof We have hereunto set Ward end for raising the hammer and hooked our hands.

5 rear end, the trigger With hooked upper end WVILLIAM C. FOREMAN. engaging the hooked rear end of the set-lever, STANTON FOREMAN. the slide-rod H, attached to the trigger and WVitnesses: having a plate or disk at its forward-end in JAMES S. TOLLES front of the barrel, and the holding-tine for S. P. TOLLES. 

